page_title: Administrative divisions of Finland
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Administrative divisions of Finland / Description
context_page_description: As of 2017, Finland is divided into:
  19 regions
  the regions are divided into 70 sub-regions
  the sub-regions are divided into 311 municipalities.
context_section_description: Municipalities (which may also call themselves towns or cities) account for half of public spending. Spending is financed by municipal income tax, state subsidies, and other revenue. As of 2017, there are 311 municipalities, and most were under 5,000 residents. In Finland, state has started the Municipality and Service Structure Reform Program to reform the complex and expensive municipal system, but initiatives have encountered much opposition from local bureaucrats and interest groups. People often identify with their municipality. Government's local administrative duties are performed by the Regional State Administrative Agencies.
  In addition to municipalities, there are complex other arrangements. Municipalities co-operate in seventy-four sub-regions and twenty regions. These are governed by the member municipalities. The Åland region has a permanent, democratically elected regional council, as a part of the autonomy. In the Kainuu region, there is a pilot project underway, with regional elections. Sami people have a semi-autonomous Sami Domicile Area in Lapland for issues on language and culture.
  Further information: List of Finnish municipalities and Former municipalities of Finland
caption: Municipalities and regions map of Finland (2007).
  Black borders refer to municipalities, red to regions.
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